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Why is $5k such a magic number? Is it somehow based on the probability of a "blow-out" while trading a single contract?

It's also a Web-site for aspiring traders and people for whome trading is a hobby. Don't let the minority who make sure to vocally doubt and smear every reasonable thing they read distract you from this journal. Don't feed the troll

The difference is quite simple. With equities you need to have (borrow) the full price in USD or EUR. Whether the position is leveraged or not, the broker has to buy the actual stocks for you. With futures you don't buy anything. You only need to contribute the margin, which for currency...

Given the topic has been raised, another potential investment vehicle is a spread-betting company. This way there would be no inactivity fee and likely no data fee (spread-betting companies quote market price with their own spread included and thus avoid exchange fees). Additional benefit is...

Hello shortbleu, All of this is correct! If you go this direction, you may want to consider "margin" account. Although, I understand, you don't intend to apply any leverage on the stock portfolio, having a little leeway may prove useful later. Obviously, you can "upgrade" the account if you...

I am not up to date with the most recent laptops... but given the scope of applications, you may consider the laptop with the best screen / keyboard and ignore any other considerations except the price range.

shortbleu, you are very welcome! It would be more convenient to have the forex hedge with the same stock broker. Over longer term (months) exchange rate may change by 10% - 20%. If the rate moves against you, you should have enough money in the forex account in order to avoid margin call and...

"The ice caps will melt and the oceans will boil." Is anyone buying land in Iceland?

I mean to say "best bid / best ask" - the first level of the order book (market depth).

No, unless the regulation requires introduction of the maintenance margin at half the initial margin or lower, similar to futures.

Usually an antivirus comes with software firewall as mentioned by other posters. Depending on the antivirus, the firewall may block any software form accessing internet by default unless the user explicitely permits. So, if you clicked the default "block" button some time firewall may continue...

Maybe, governments are just trying to live till the next election. Then someone else takes over and it will be up to them to take unpopular measures and clean up the mess.

Trades are usually just what it say, that is trades. Quotes are usually bid/ask prices (with size).

It doiesn't matter in which currency the account is (it's just for reporting purposes) but the fact that the cash is kept in GBP ensures that the currency risk applies to P&L only. P.S. A post that makes a statement but fails to explain carries no educational value for any reader.

It probabbly is if Chinese Internet is still filtered. You can't rely on government-imposed filters to be efficiently implemented. If you have a broker now, I would suggest placing a limit order way out of the market (so, it's not accidentally executed) and time how long it takes till the...

Apparently, in the fund business it's even more difficult to "break the matrix" than as a trader. People who make money 10 months out of 12 remain with 50mln under management while 500mln funds may be loosing money every year but keep growing if they are marketed by a big bank.

This is probabbly best advice. If you are in a position to hire a full-time developer, it can work. The thing is most people aren't entrepreneurial and prefer a stable paycheck every month. Another thought is selling a system for a persom who is not in the business (of selling systems) is a...

I explain because I understand. If you don't know how things work or have *limited* experience with brokers please refrain from posting accusations and just ask "how so". In shortbleu's example GBP10,000 is used as a collateral. 1) The trader borrows USD12,000 from the broker and uses this...

shortbleu, Assuming you can't open account denominated in GBP (UK is notoriously short of discount brokers, unless you count spread-betting companies), what would be the main reasons you want this feature? Below I will just mention what some of these reasons can be and how they can be...

As shortbleu described above, the broker doesn't take any currency risk whatsoever... but still charges a fee for purchasing "cross-currency" assets. It may not sound much but over long term 1.5%-2% per year add up quick.